Reps. Lewis and Sensenbrenner Stand up for Energy Interests

Reps. Take $450k in Campaign Cash from Industry

Washington, D.C.—Longtime Republican Reps. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) and Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) have pledged to reward big oil and coal interests after taking nearly $450,000 in campaign cash from them over the years, according to nonpartisan campaign watchdog Public Campaign Action Fund’s analysis of data from the Center for Responsive Politics.

“Big oil, electric utilities, and coal interests have invested tens of millions in campaign contributions to thwart meaningful solutions to our country’s dependence on polluting energy sources—and it looks like the new Republican majority is going to give them two favors right off the bat,” said David Donnelly, national campaigns director for Public Campaign Action Fund.

Rep. Sensenbrenner, who just announced that the new Republican majority will nix the Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming, has received $10,000 over the years from Koch Industries Political Action Committee (PAC) – the private oil conglomerate run by major Republican donors Charles and David Koch. Sensenbrenner has received a total of $91,297 in campaign cash from the oil & gas, electric utilities, and coal mining industries during his time in Congress.

Rep. Lewis, who is vying for Appropriations Committee Chair, has pledged to strip funding from the Obama Administration’s new environmental regulations. Lewis has received $356,250 from the oil & gas, coal mining, and electric utilities industries during his Congressional career.

“A Rasmussen survey conducted this summer found that 70 percent of Americans believe members of Congress would be willing to sell their vote for cash or campaign contributions,” said Donnelly. “With actions and announcements like these, that number will only go higher. It’s time for Congress to end this system of legalized bribery and undue dependence on corporate interests, and put voters back in charge.”

Public Campaign Action Fund works to hold politicians who are against comprehensive campaign finance reform accountable for where they get their political donations. Learn more at www.campaignmoney.org.